CC_Minutes_2013_0318 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Regular City Council Meeting Monday,March 18,2013 Page 23 since. Chief Mathwig reviewed this option and intent of adding two (2) commer- cial officers providing two (2) squads/officers working during specific times dur- ing their shifts to deal with problem retail issues based on documentation of those specific times. Chief Mathwig predicted that redevelopment of the Twin Lakes area even beyond WalMart would become predominantly retail, and from his per- spective, crime would also follow that. Chief Mathwig advised that he would pre- fer to have officers available to deal with that specifically and address those heav- ily-detailed retail areas. At the request of Councilmember Etten to have those retail businesses be part of that financial solution, Finance Director Miller advised that any such function would have to be on a largely volunteer basis on the part of those retailers. Mr. Miller advised that past discussions had included a dedicated tax levy for this that would be borne by all Roseville taxpayers; as well as a mechanism to create a Special Services District to target higher levels of service. However, Mr. Miller advised that such a District would require a minimum of 60% of those affected property owners agreeing to that higher level of service and being willing to pay for it. Mr. Miller advised that those areas would be defined by their geographic designation, not a specific zoning type, similar to one in place and since dissolved in the Lexington/Larpenteur Avenue area in the 1990's. Mr. Miller advised that the former district was a partnership between area business owners and the City. Councilmember Etten questioned if, in the case of Har Mar or Rosedale, that would be 60% of the individual businesses or the complex itself; with Mr. Miller responding that it would typically be a percentage of those parcels impacted. Mr. Miller cautioned that there were several considerations to address, including that those businesses felt that already paid a larger amount of taxes of the overall city's tax base in their geographical areas. At the request of Councilmember Etten, Finance Director Miller advised that he could further research options and report back to the City Council, including City Attorney Gaughan, Community Development Director Trudgeon, and Police Chief Mathwig. Mr. Miller advised that Special Taxing District language in State Statute was very specific, and there were defined steps in implementing such a District. Mr. Miller advised that the tricky part was to get businesses to agree, with Chief Mathwig having many discussions over the years with Rosedale to achieve a partnership with the City in addressing this situation. Chief Mathwig concurred, noting that during his discussions, as well as those by former Chief Sletner, Rosedale representatives and owners had politely respond- ed, "No thank you." Mayor Roe recognized their position that they already paid significant taxes in Roseville based on the size of their property. Mayor Roe sought future clarifica-